The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

He’d been looking for any excuse to talk to her, to ask how she’d fared over the years, but he could

already predict Yasmine’s reaction and response—

“Don’t you think that’s kind of a dumb question now?”

Well, she was fine now, standing healthy and well in front of him. How could she not be doing well?

But if not that question, what could he ask that would be a good entry point into a conversation?

He drew a blank.

Deep down, he understood that when she had given the impression she was gone for good, it wasn’t to

deceive everyone, it was just to deceive him. As she had said, she truly wanted to rid herself of him.

For nine years, she managed to stay completely detached from the orphanage and everyone in it.d2

The day came to an end, and Yasmine finally stood up to leave.

Books tucked under one arm, her other hand holding a cellphone to her ear, she breezed past him, her

voice as light and ripple-free as her stride. “Okay, heading out now. Mmm, I could go for a milkshake.”

Boyd, who was also about to leave, suddenly froze. It took a moment before he slowly turned his head,

watching the figure at the classroom door.

That last bit about wanting a milkshake, with that lingering tone, somehow sounded like there was a

hint of playing cute in it.

He met her at an age when she should have been the most delicate and cute, yet he had never seen or

heard her act like that before.

Not even in his wildest dreams did Yasmine ever act like a spoiled child.

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And now, although it was subtle, he could still detect it.

He didn’t want to admit this.

Her figure disappeared through the doorway without a hint of reluctance, and he stood up, his tall and

lean silhouette conspicuous in his crisp white shirt. Under the watchful eyes of the female students, he

strode out of the classroom.

By the door, he saw Yasmine casually dump her stack of books onto a young man’s arms and then

take a paper cup from him, lowering her head to sip through the straw.

Derek watched her contented expression and laughed helplessly, “Every time I see that look on your

face, I remember how much you used to despise it.”

Yasmine was unfazed, “I never said I liked it.”

Derek chuckled ruefully, “Then what’s this? Looking all satisfied with something you don’t like?”

“Who says satisfaction has to equate to liking something?”

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Yasmine took another sip, and the two walked side by side toward the school gates, Derek taking a

deep breath, “Only you could argue like this. There’s no winning against you.”

“An argument is still an argument, no matter how twisted.”

Derek couldn’t argue with that. Over the years, he’d seen plenty of her skewed logic, and somehow,

she always managed to brainwash him successfully.

“How’s college life?”

“Just a different place to hit the books, what else?”

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This time, Derek zipped his lips, deciding he was done with the conversation. Since his father had

brought his mother and him to live with her, he had never seen anything that she truly liked. She

seemed indifferent to everything. She was like a saint, devoid of desires.

“Is it that hard to admit you like something?”

He must have asked her that question a hundred times over the years, but he never seemed to get a

straight answer. Just like this time.

“If I find something appealing, I’ll aspire to own it while investing time in pursuits that may seem childish

and insignificant. With that effort, I could be researching stocks, making a big score, isn’t that more

enjoyable?”

Derek sighed deeply, feeling a tightness in his chest. “Enjoyable indeed.”

They reached the school entrance, and Yasmine’s milkshake cup was empty. She tossed it into the

trash can, and Derek held the car door open for her, waiting for her to get in.

Boyd stood at the school gates, watching the car drive away, reminded of the day she left the

orphanage when they were kids.

Their closeness was completely natural. Just as natural as her strangeness to him was.

He thought seeing Yasmine alive and well would be enough, but reality told him it wasn’t. Satisfaction

was still too far away. It felt like a bottomless pit, one that could never be filled.

At dinner, Bryson cheerfully asked the first question that his son had asked her today.

“How’s college life?”

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Yasmine had a cup of milkshake to fill her stomach, didn’t eat the meal much, and only managed to

take a few bites.

“It’s okay.”

It was a much better response than the one she gave Derek.

Used to Yasmine’s temperament, Bryson was thrilled with the answer. “Anything you’re unhappy with?

If there is, I’ll talk to the school about it tomorrow.”

Yasmine paused, “… It’s okay.”

Derek glanced at her.

After dinner, Yasmine sat watching TV in the living room, and Derek sat down in front of her.

“Something up at school?”

Yasmine switched from the finance channel to a celebrity gossip show, not playing dumb. “It’s nothing

big, just ended up in the same class as someone I don’t particularly like.”

Derek’s eyes shifted, “…Boyd?”

Yasmine watched the screen where the latest celebrity was getting cozy with a director at a hotel, and

upon hearing Derek’s guess, she nodded faintly, “Yeah.”

Derek squinted at her for a long time, “And that’s not a big deal? You sure you don’t want to switch

classes?”

“No, I don’t.” Yasmine changed the channel, “It wasn’t easy getting my seat.”

Derek thought to himself. ” It seemed like it really wasn’t a big deal—still not as important as a seat.”

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“You sure it’s not one of those childhood sweethearts reunited scenarios?”

Yasmine curled up, arms wrapped around her knees, and after pondering for a moment, she turned to

look at him.

“And then what?”

Derek was puzzled, “What do you mean, ‘then what’?”

“After the childhood sweethearts are reunited, what could possibly happen?”

Derek rolled his eyes, exasperated, “There could be an unexpected romance, and next thing you know,

a baby.”

Yasmine was taken aback, “Is this a rocket launch or what? How could it be so fast?”

Derek pointed at her, shock written all over his face, “Did you… did you just imagine that?!”

Yasmine looked at him for two seconds, then turned her attention back to the TV, scoffing lightly, “And

why not?”

“You…”

Derek wanted to say more, but Yasmine suddenly turned to stare at him, a long, silent gaze.

Derek shifted to the side, “What are you looking at?”

“I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to have kids with you.”

A grimace played at the corner of Derek’s mouth as his gaze locked onto Yasmine’s strikingly beautiful

face. He ventured cautiously, “Well? What do you think?”

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Yasmine shook her head, “Not gonna happen.”

Derek’s expression darkened, “You have no basis for that!”

“No, I’ve watched you grow up from the kid next door to this. I’m just not feeling it for your bod.”

Derek gritted his teeth audibly, “Are you even a woman?!”

“Of course, I am. I’m perfectly normal. Don’t tell me you don’t have a few fantasies about women.”

Derek couldn’t reply to that.

Seemingly amused by the situation, Yasmine leaned back on the couch, propping her head in her

hands, a smirk playing on her lips as she watched him.

“Got a girlfriend yet?”

Derek stumbled over his words, unable to form a coherent response. Finally, he stood up abruptly,

“This is ridiculous.”

Yasmine watched his ears turn a telltale shade of red and laughed, “Humanity’s future depends on

these things. If you’re really that inexperienced, maybe I should enlighten you someday?”

Derek glared at her fiercely, “You act like you’re some kind of sex guru.”

Yasmine arched an eyebrow, “At least I can think about it without blushing.”Books Chapters Are Daily

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“Mhm, better than you.”

Derek had had enough. He didn’t want to continue this absurd conversation and turned to head

upstairs, but halfway up, curiosity got the better of him, and he looked back. “So what was the verdict?

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You and Boyd, how did that fantasy pan out?”

Yasmine was idly flipping through channels on the remote, seemingly uninterested. The colors from the

TV screen flickered across her impassive face, and her eyes seemed devoid of any emotion.

“Not great.” It took her a while to come up with that much of an answer.

Derek shrugged nonchalantly, feeling an inexplicable sense of relief. “Try to think less about that kind of

stuff, you pervert.”

Sensing Yasmine was about to look at him, Derek quickly turned and continued upstairs.

The TV screen settled on a sports channel, showcasing a special on athletic champions. Each of them

was indeed well-built, with long arms and legs, broad shoulders, narrow hips, chiseled abs, and their

swimming strokes exuded effortless grace.

But just as quickly, the screen flicked to the financial news channel.

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